2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H90.42Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H90-H94›H90

ICD-10-CM H90.42
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H90.42 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. Coders also document this condition as high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Hearing loss.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H90.42
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side
Short Description
Snsrnrl hear loss, uni, left ear, w unrestr hear cntra side
Parent Code
H90.4
Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH90-H94Other disorders of ear
CategoryH90Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
This CodeH90.42Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • High frequency sensorineural hearing loss
  • High frequency sensorineural hearing loss in left ear
  • Sensorineural hearing loss of left ear
  • Sensorineural hearing loss of left ear with normal hearing on right side

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H90.42: its own notes plus those printed at H90 and Chapter 8. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From H90 Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss applies to 18 codes
  • deaf nonspeaking NEC (H91.3)
  • deafness NOS (H91.9-)
  • hearing loss NOS (H91.9-)
  • noise-induced hearing loss (H83.3-)
  • ototoxic hearing loss (H91.0-)
  • sudden (idiopathic) hearing loss (H91.2-)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the ear condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the ear condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name H90.42, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention H90.42.

  • Z82.2 Family history of deafness and hearing loss
    Conditions classifiable to H90-H91 names H90-H91, which includes this code

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming H90.42: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H91 Other and unspecified hearing loss
    hearing loss as classified in H90.- names H90.-, which includes this code
  • Q16 Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing
    congenital deafness (H90.-) names H90.-, which includes this code

Code Also 1

These codes say H90.42 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • F80.4 Speech and language development delay due to hearing loss
    type of hearing loss (H90.-, H91.-) names H90.-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR EAR004
Hearing loss
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural

    hearing loss resulting from damage to the cochlea and the sensorineural elements which lie internally beyond the oval and round windows. these elements include the auditory nerve and its connections in the brainstem.

Patient EducationClinical

Hearing Disorders and Deafness

It's frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with friends or family. Hearing disorders make it hard, but not impossible, to hear. They can often be helped. Deafness can keep you from hearing sound at all.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert H90.42 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
389.13 Neural hear loss, unilat
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
389.14 Central hearing loss
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
389.15 Sensorneur hear loss uni
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
389.17 Sensory hear loss,unilat
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H90.42Overview

Is H90.42 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does H90.42 group to?

When sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 156, 155, 154, with relative weights from 0.6656 to 1.5916 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can H90.42 be reported with H91.3?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at H90, which applies to H90.42, lists "deaf nonspeaking NEC (H91.3)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H90.42?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side converts to ICD-9-CM 389.13 (neural hear loss, unilat), 389.14 (central hearing loss), and 389.15 (sensorneur hear loss uni). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.